Project American Heroes III Gets Slicked Up And Wired.

Building a highly-detailed automobile is a matter of properly completing the numerous odds and ends of assembly with care and precision. The crew at Route 66 Motorsports is up to the task, as the Project American Heroes III Chevelle is being birthed before our very eyes. Sporting some very trick, cutting-edge components from the aftermarket, this car promises to make its new owner extremely happy. Body panels are installed, the chassis is just about done, and the supercharged LSA motor is on the verge of being fired up.

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This segment of the build brings a couple of our Project American Heroes team members (read: sponsoring vendors) into special focus. There are some very high quality people supplying parts that not too long ago required hours of junkyard scrounging and swap meet meandering. For example, a quick call to a top-notch company like Specialty Power Windows (SPW) and an entire power window conversion kit with OEM quality parts can be shipped to your door. The founders of SPW, Ervin and Louise Castlebery, are real car people. Having worked for 35 years in their own body shop, they ventured out in the old car hobby to begin supplying enthusiasts with not only their high quality power window kits, but also windshield wiper kits, and other related pieces for antique cars, street rods, trucks and vans.

Painless Performance Products, which manufactures high-quality wiring kits and harnesses is another of those aftermarket stories of modern day performance machines benefitting from the hard work and determination of a real car guy. One of the founders of the company, Dennis Overholser, sold his first three harnesses at the 1990 Pate swap meet in Cresson, Texas. That simple goal to supply an easy kit for wiring street rods has evolved into a multi-faceted company with 66 employees in a modern 43,000-square-foot facility manufacturing over 500 products for show cars, street cars, dragsters, and even rock crawlers.

Another PAH team member that comes to light at this stage of the PAH3 construction is Fesler Built. After 40 years, one might safely conclude that any new "slick" part for '70 Chevelles would simply be a rehash of old ideas. But then Fesler Built creates its highly engineered billet hood hinge, redefining the standards for engine compartment appearance. A marvel of engineering and operation, the Fesler billet hood hinge makes the OEM piece look like a dumpster with a garage door spring. By the way, Fesler Built does a whole lot more than hinges. It is also heavily involved in building specialty '10 Camaros and first class hot rods.

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Speaking of first class hot rods, the Project American Heroes Team would be nowhere without the quarterback, Bill Jelinek, owner of Route 66 Motorsports. For Bill to take this clapped out '70 Chevelle and transform it a high-tech street fighter is an accomplishment of Joe Montana proportions. The crew at Route 66 Motorsports makes any and all tasks look easy. Need a chalk mark restoration of that '69 Z/28? Route 66 Motorsports already has a number of award-winning builds under its collective belt. Want a killer Chevelle, but can't make to the June 25-27 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction? No problem, Jelinek will build you another one to your exact specifications. Follow along as PAH 3 nears its final completion and debut as we build one for America's armed forces personnel.

MORE PHOTOS

National Parts Depot (NPD) has been supplying parts for the Chevelle, including the exterior door handles being installed on the car. Of course, fit and finish are excellent.

Having installed the exterior NPD door handle, Kevin Rock inserts the lock into the door, and attaches it to the lock mechanism inside the door.

NPD also supplied the new trunk latch, and it was installed by Rock while we were not looking.

Fesler Built supplied these incredible hood hinges for the Project American Heroes Chevelle. The Fesler billet hood hinges are made of the finest quality aluminum 6061 T6 and use weatherproof bearings and stainless steel struts. One look at these masterpieces will make you never want to look at another OEM hinge again. Craftsmanship is world class, stainless installation hardware complements billet construction, and operation is smooth and effortless improved.

Fesler Built has also created this beautiful trunk lid hinge. This could be the first time in automotive history where the words "beautiful" and "trunk lid hinge" have ever been used in the same sentence.

The NPD "SS" pad installed on the new NPD rear bumper, Jason Johns and Rock line up the part on the car.

The Fesler billet taillight is one of those great products that subtly change the look of a car. Available in standard billet, brushed, polished, or anodized, the Fesler billet taillight comes with the lens, and fits the factory opening perfectly.

Moving over to the Specialty Power Windows kit installation, the OEM window guide assembly is inserted into the door and attached.

At this point, the installation becomes a two man job. Johns holds the glass, as Rock attaches it to the window track.

This process requires patience and care not to damage the glass.

The Specialty Power Windows (SPW) window regulator and motor is laid out for installation in the door.

The SPW window regulator and motor is slipped into the door and bolted in place.

Motor and regulator are bolted to the factory mounting locations inside the door.

Cool It Thermo Tec supplied its "Suppressor" acoustical and heat control for the project. The entire area to be covered was completely cleaned to insure the best possible adhesion. In addition to the polyethylene film, the foil surface provides direct protection from radiant heat.

The Cool It Thermo Tec is 70 mil thick and contains a high temperature adhesive backing. Installation is a simple matter of cut and trim and peel and stick to desired area. Its adhesion to metal floors and the firewall is exceptional.

Jason applies the Cool It Thermo Tec to the floors, firewall, and toeboard.

The area under the dash is left uncovered until installation of wiring components are finalized. The finished installation looks great, and more importantly will provide insulation during both hot and cold days. Sound deadening with this product completely transforms the driving experience as road noise is reduced, giving the interior a high-quality feel.

The firewall has been smoothed for appearance sake. For that reason, all holes for wiring need to be cut. The Painless Wiring fuse block is measured, and a corresponding hole is cut into the firewall.

The Painless fuse block is attached to the firewall, and the wires are run to their approximate locations.

Rear wires are run along the sill and completely hidden by the sill plate.

Wires are run to the trunk and await final installation for lights and accessories.

Just a simple tip: keep wires neat and tidy. Tie wraps have their place, but clips that are actually attached to the car not only make a more sanitary installation, they minimize future problems from wires rubbing and breaking.

The LSA engine is now ready to come to life, as the wiring and plumbing for interior and final assembly is completed.

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